Multidirectional Switch

ABSTRACT

A pressure-receiving member that can be moved along an urging axial center, and a compression coil spring for urging the pressure-receiving member in the direction of an engaging body, are provided between the engaging body in an inside end position of an operating rod and a bottom wall part of a casing. A plurality of protruding pieces for restricting tilting by making contact with the pressure-receiving member is provided to the internal surface of a cylindrical part of a rotor that engages and integrally rotates with engaging pieces of the external periphery of the engaging body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a multidirectional switch provided witha tilt detector for electrically detecting a tilting operation of anoperating rod supported in a casing, a pressing detector forelectrically detecting a pressing operation of the operating rod in adirection along an axial center, and a rotation detector forelectrically detecting a rotational operation of the operating rod.

2. Description of the Related Art

A multidirectional switch configured in the manner described above isdisclosed in Patent Document 1. In Patent Document 1, an acting body isfitted onto an intermediate position of the operating rod. Whensubjected to pressure, any one of four units formed on the acting bodyproduces a pressing action and causes a spring plate member toelastically deform in a corresponding position in a case in which theoperating rod is tiltably operated. A tilt detector is configured sothat the tilting operation is electrically detected by the contact ofthe spring plate member with a corresponding electrode.

Also, in patent document 1, a contact part is protrudingly formed in alower end position of the operating rod, and the contact part pressesand causes the spring plate member to elastically deform when theoperating rod is operated to create pressure in the direction of theaxial center of the rod. The spring plate member makes contact with acorresponding electrode, whereby the pressing detector is configured toelectrically detect the pressing operation. In particular, a ring-shapedspring seat member is provided in a position that encompasses thecontact part, and a compressed coil-type return spring is providedbetween the spring seat member and the bottom wall of the case.

Further provided in Patent Document 1 are a cylindrical part forengaging a plurality of engagement pieces formed in the shape of a gearon the lower part of the operating rod, and a rotor having aflange-shaped part integrally formed at the lower end part of thecylindrical part. The rotor integrally rotates with the operating rod,and a rotation detector is configured so that the rotation iselectrically detected by a contact between a sliding contact part of thelower surface of the flange-shape part and a plurality of electrodesformed on the bottom surface of the case when the operating rodrotatably operates.

[Patent Document 1] JP (Kokai) 2007-227006 (paragraphs [0020] to [0054],and FIGS. 3 to 11)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The return spring of the multidirectional switch described in PatentDocument 1 functions to apply an urging force in the return direction ofthe operating rod in a case in which the operating rod is subjected topressure along the direction of the axial center of the rod, and alsofunctions to apply a force for restoring the operating rod to a neutralorientation in a case in which the operating rod has been tiltablyoperated.

In the multidirectional switch described in Patent Document 1, theurging force that acts on the operating rod from the return springcauses a radial location of the return spring to be compressed and anoppositely disposed location to be extended when the operating rod istiltably operated, as shown in FIG. 6 of Patent Document 1.

In a case in which the return spring is non-uniformly compressed by abiased load in such a manner, an urging force that acts in the neutraldirection on the operating rod is reduced because the urging force actsin a direction away from the axial center of the return spring (avirtual straight line that connects the center of a circle formed by thecoil).

In other words, when the operating rod has been tiltably operated, anurging force is generated in a compressed location of the return spring,but since the spring seat member tilts toward the axial center of thereturn spring, the urging force acts in the direction along the tiltplane of the spring seat member, and the restorative force that acts onthe operating rod is reduced.

In particular, improvements can still be made in a case in which theurging force of the return spring acts in the direction along the tiltplane of the spring seat member in the manner described above inaccompaniment with the tilting operation of the operating rod. In thiscase, the urging force acts in the direction in which the return springitself is allowed to move; as a result, the return spring is displacedbetween the bottom surface of the casing and the spring seat membermidway through the tilting operation of the operating rod, and thedirection of the urging force that acts on operating rod changes, makingthe switch less convenient to operate.

An object of the present invention is to optimize a multidirectionalswitch in which a suitable urging force is applied to the operating rodeven in a case in which the operating rod has been tiltably operated.

A first aspect of the multidirectional switch of the present inventionfor achieving the above-described object is a multidirectional switchprovided with a tilt detector for electrically detecting a tiltingoperation of an operating rod supported in a casing, a pressure detectorfor electrically detecting a pressing operation of the operating rod ina direction along an axial center, and a rotation detector forelectrically detecting a rotational operation of the operating rod, themultidirectional switch comprising:

an urging member for applying an urging force to the operating rod alongan urging axial center that is coaxial with the axial center of theoperating rod in a neutral orientation in the direction of the tiltingoperation; and

a pressure-receiving member caused to make contact with an inside endpart of the operating rod inside the casing by the urging force from theurging member, wherein

the pressure-receiving member has a tilt limit during the tiltingoperation of the operating rod.

In accordance with the present configuration, the tilting limit of thepressure-receiving member is set even in a case in which the operatingrod is tiltably operated, a location on the external peripheral part ofthe inside end of the operating rod is displaced in the direction inwhich the urging member is compressed, and the other locations of theexternal peripheral part of the inside end of the operating rod aredisplaced in the direction that extends the urging member. Therefore, asituation can be prevented in which a location of the pressure-receivingpart that corresponds to the position in which the urging member extendsis considerably displaced in the direction of the operating rod, and theorientation of the pressure-receiving member can be kept in anorientation approximate to an orientation orthogonal to the urging axialcenter. Since the tilt limit of the pressure-receiving member is set inthis manner, the pressure-receiving member and the operating rod are incontact with each other at the pressing side, but move away from eachother at the other side of the pressing side in a case in which theoperating rod is tiltably operated. Therefore, only the urging force ofthe urging member from the contact locations operates on the operatingrod, and the restorative force of the operating rod is increased. Theconfiguration results in a multidirectional switch that suitably exertsan urging force on the operating rod when the operating rod is tiltablyoperated.

A second aspect of the multidirectional switch of the present inventionis one in which protruding pieces are provided for setting the tiltlimit by making contact with the pressure-receiving member.

In accordance with the present configuration, the tilt limit of thepressure-receiving member can be set by a simple structure provided withprotruding pieces that make contact with the pressure-receiving member.

A third aspect of the multidirectional switch of the present inventionis one in which the rotation detector has a rotor for rotating inaccompaniment with the operating rod, and a plurality of electrodes fordetecting the rotational position of the rotor; the rotor has acylindrical part capable of engaging and integrally rotating with theexternal periphery of an inside end part of the operating rod; theurging member and the pressure-receiving member are arranged inside thecylindrical part; and the protruding pieces are formed on the internalsurface of the cylindrical part.

In accordance with this configuration, a member for providing protrudingpieces is not specially formed, and the tilt limit of thepressure-receiving member can be set without increasing the number ofcomponents by using the cylindrical part of the rotor.

A fourth aspect of the multidirectional switch of the present inventionis one in which the pressure detector has a spring plate member made ofa conductor elastically deformed by the effect of a pressing forceproduced by the operation of the operating rod in an inward pressingdirection, and also has a pair of electrodes energized by contact withthe spring plate member when the spring plate member undergoes elasticdeformation; the urging member is made of a compression coil spring; andthe compression coil spring is arranged in a position that encompassesthe spring plate member.

In accordance with the present configuration, a pressing operation canbe detected by contact between the spring plate member and the electrodein a case in which the operating rod has been operated by pressure alongthe axial center of the rod. When the operating rod has been tiltablyoperated, the pressure-receiving member displaces in accompaniment withthe tilt, and the compression coil is compressed. Therefore, the urgingforce that acts on the pressure-receiving member from the compressedcoil spring can be made to act in the direction that restores theoperating rod to a neutral orientation.

A fifth aspect of the multidirectional switch of the present inventionis one in which the tilt detector has elements arranged in positionsencompassing the operating rod, the elements comprising: an acting bodyfor integrally tilting with the operating rod; a spring plate membermade of a conductor elastically deformed by the effect of a pressingforce produced by the acting body; and a pair of electrodes energized bycontact with the spring plate member when the spring plate memberundergoes elastic deformation.

In accordance with the present configuration, the corresponding springmember and electrode make contact when the operating rod is tiltablyoperated, whereby the direction of the tilting operation can beelectrically detected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a perspective view of the multidirectionalswitch;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a bottom view of the multidirectionalswitch;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a longitudinal sectional view of themultidirectional switch;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an exploded perspective view of themultidirectional switch;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a longitudinal sectional view of themultidirectional switch in a tiltably operated state;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a longitudinal sectional view of themultidirectional switch operated by pressure;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a plan view of the electrode arrangement ofthe bottom wall part of the lower casing;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a bottom view of the rotor;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a perspective view of the rotor; and

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a plan view of the electrode arrangement ofthe intermediate wall part of the upper casing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below withreference to the diagrams.

(Overall Configuration)

The multidirectional switch has an operating rod 20 oriented verticallyin relation to a casing 10, a tilt detector A for electrically detectinga tilting operation of the operating rod 20, a pressure detector B forelectrically detecting a pressing operation of the operating rod 20 inthe direction along the axial center Y, and a rotation detector C forelectrically detecting a rotational operation of the operating rod 20,as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

The multidirectional switch may be used in mobile phones, PDAs, gamemachine controllers, remote controllers for home electronics, and thelike. In the multidirectional switch, the vertical direction during useis irrelevant, but in the present embodiment, the upper side in FIG. 3is referred to as “up,” and the lower side is referred to as “down.”

The multidirectional switch is configured so that the operating rod 20maintains a neutral orientation N when not operated. The tilt detector Adetects a tilting operation in crosswise directions (four directions)about the neutral orientation N. The axial center of the operating rod20 is referred to as the axial center Y of the rod, and the pressuredetector B electrically detects a pressing operation of the rod in thedirection along the axial center Y. The rotation detector C electricallydetects the amount of rotational operation about the axial center Y ofthe rod in the neutral orientation N.

In the multidirectional switch, the tilt detector A is configured todetect operation in four directions when the operating rod 20 has beenoperated in any of the cross directions, but the tilt detector A maydetect a tilt in less than four directions, e.g., two directions, or maydetect a tilt in five or more directions, such as eight directions.

The casing 10 has a configuration in which a top cover 11, an uppercasing 12, and a lower casing 13, all made of an insulating resinmaterial, are connected to each other. The top cover 11, upper casing12, and lower casing 13 are molded so that the cross-sectional shape, asviewed along the axial center Y of the rod in the neutral orientation N(plan view), is a regular octagonal shape.

A through-hole 11A through which the operating rod 20 passes in thevertical direction is formed in the top cover 11. A concave-shaped guidesurface 11G is formed in the lower surface of the top cover 11equidistant from the tilt center P of the operating rod 20. Fourconnecting pieces 14 are integrally and protrudingly formed facingdownward on the external peripheral part of the top cover 11, andengaging/connecting parts 14A having a hole shape are formed in thedistal ends of the connecting pieces 14.

The through-hole 11A has a structure having a cross-shaped guide groove11AG along the tilt direction as viewed from above, and a sloped surfacefacing the direction of the tilt center P is formed in the cross-shapedguide groove 11AG.

Integrally formed in the upper casing 12 is a cylindrical side wall part12A oriented along the axial center Y of the rod in the neutralorientation N, and an intermediate wall part 12B oriented orthogonal tothe axial center Y of the rod in the neutral orientation N. A hole 12His formed in the center position of the intermediate wall part 12B, andeight concave engaging pieces 12T are formed equidistant in theperipheral direction in the external surface of the side wall part 12A.

A center electrode 31 made of a conductor is formed in four detectionpositions corresponding to the cross directions in the upper surface ofthe intermediate wall part 12B of the upper casing 12 about theoperating rod 20, as shown in FIG. 10; and ring electrodes 32 made of aconductor are formed in positions that encompass the center electrodes31.

Independent tilt detection circuits that are conductive separately fromthe four center electrodes 31, and a common circuit that is conductiveto the four ring electrodes 32 are formed in the intermediate wall part12B of the upper casing 12 by an insert technique. Four tilt detectorleads 33 that are conductive to the tilt detection circuits are formedso as to protrude downward on the upper casing 12, and a single commonlead 34 that is conductive to the common circuit is formed so as toprotrude downward.

Integrally formed in the lower casing 13 are a cylindrical side wallpart 13A oriented along the axial center Y of the rod in the neutralorientation N, and a bottom wall part 13B oriented orthogonal to theaxial center Y of the rod in the neutral orientation N. A restrictionpart 13C shaped as a toroidal rib in which the pressure detector B isarranged is concentrically formed so as to protrude in the center of theupper surface of the bottom wall part 13B, and a spring seat part 13Dshaped as a toroidal rib is concentrically formed so as to protrude inthe external peripheral position.

Four connecting pieces 15 are integrally formed so as to protrude upwardon the side wall part 13A of the lower casing 13, and aengaging/connecting parts 15A having a hole shape are formed in thedistal ends of the connecting pieces 15.

A center electrode 41 made of a conductor is formed in the centerposition of the bottom wall part 13B of the lower casing 13 in alocation encompassed by the restriction part 13C, and a ring electrode42 made of a conductor is formed in a position that encompasses thecenter electrode 41, as shown in FIG. 7. A pressing operation detectioncircuit that is conductive to the center electrode 41, and a ringcircuit that is conductive to the ring electrode 42 are formed on thebottom wall part 13B of the lower casing 13 using an insert technique. Apressure detection lead 43 that is conductive to the pressing operationdetection circuit is formed so as to protrude downward, and a ring lead44 that is conductive to the ring circuit is formed so as to protrudedownward.

A ring-shaped common electrode 51 made of a conductor, and a pluralityof count electrodes 52 made of a conductor are arranged on the externalperipheral portion of the spring seat part 13D of the bottom wall part13B of the lower casing 13, and numerous clicking-inducing convexitiesand concavities 53 are formed in positions the encompass the countelectrodes 52.

The common electrode 51 is made conductive to a common lead 54 via acircuit formed using an insert technique inside the bottom wall part 13Bof the lower casing 13, and the count electrodes 52 are made conductiveto a count lead 55 via a circuit formed using an insert technique. Thecommon lead 54 and the count lead 55 are formed so as to protrudedownward. A lead holder 13H, provided with a hole through which the fourtilt detector leads 33 and the single common lead 34 are inserted, isformed on the lower part of the external surface of the lower casing 13.

(Operating Rod)

The operating rod 20 is made of a copper alloy or another materialhaving relatively high rigidity, and a D-cut part 21A on which a knob orthe like is mounted is formed on an upper end part 21 that protrudesupward from the casing 10. A small diameter part 21B and an intermediatepart 22 are formed on the lower side of the upper end part 21, and alarge diameter part 23 is formed in a location positioned inside thecasing 10 below the intermediate part 22.

The small diameter part 21B is set to a diameter that allows entry intothe guidance groove 11AG of the top cover 11, an engaging body 24 havinga plurality of gear-shaped engaging pieces 24A for outputting arotational force is connected in a location that protrudes downward fromthe large diameter part 23, and a contact part 25 is protrudingly formedon the lower end of the engaging body 24. The contact part 25 is moldedin the shape of a hemispheric surface that protrudes downward about thetilt center P shown in FIG. 3.

A compression coil spring 48 is provided as an urging member to thespring seat part 13D, and a pressure-receiving member 26 made of resinis arranged between the compression coil spring 48 and the engaging body24 positioned on the inside end part of the operating rod 20. A hole 26Athrough which the contact part 25 is inserted is formed in the centralposition of the pressure-receiving member 26. The pressure-receivingmember 26 determines the tilt limit by making contact with a pluralityof protruding pieces 60 formed on the internal surface of a cylindricalpart 56A of a later-described rotor 56.

In particular, an urging axial center Q (a virtual straight lineconnecting the center of a circle drawn by the coil) of the compressioncoil spring 48 is arranged to be coaxial with the axial center Y of theoperating rod 20 in the neutral orientation N. The pressure-receivingmember 26 is thereby freely movable along the urging axial center Q, andthe tilt limit is determined by making contact with the plurality ofprotruding pieces 60.

(Tilt Detector)

The tilt detector A has center electrodes 31 formed in four locations ofthe intermediate wall part 12B of the upper casing 12 as describedabove, a ring electrode 32, a dome-shaped spring material 35 made of aconductor arranged in a position that covers the electrodes, a rubberring 36 integrally formed with a cushioning body 36A in contact with theupper surface of the four spring plate members 35, a spring ring 37 madeof a ring-shaped spring material arranged in close contact with theupper surface of the rubber ring 36, and an acting body 38 for causing apressing force to act on the spring plate members 35 via the cushioningbody 36A when the operating rod 20 is tilted.

The spring plate members 35 are discoid elements made of a copper alloy,an iron alloy, or another conductor, and have a center part that isformed in the shape of an upwardly bulging dome. The periphery of thespring plate members 35 is in contact with the ring electrode 32 when apressing force is not applied, and the center part is set at a distancefrom the center electrode 31.

When a pressing force acts on the center part of a spring plate member35 from above, the center part of the spring plate member 35 undergoeselastic deformation and makes contact with the center electrode 31,whereby the center electrode 31 and the ring electrode 32 are placed ina conductive state. A structure is shown in the diagram in which asingle spring plate member 35 is arranged in a detection position, but aplurality of spring plate members 35 may be used.

The rubber ring 36 is made of silicone rubber or another soft insulatingmaterial, and the cushioning body 36A is integrally formed in aconfiguration that protrudes in four locations of the front and backsurfaces of the rubber ring 36. A hole 37A through which the cushioningbody 36A is passed is formed in the spring ring 37. In a similar manner,fitting holes 36S, 37S are formed in the rubber ring 36 and the springring 37, and a fitting piece 12S protruding into the intermediate wallpart 12B is fitted into the fitting holes 36S, 37S, whereby the rubberring 36 and the spring ring 37 are supported in proper positions.

The acting body 38 has a hole 38A formed in the center by molding froman insulating resin material, a convex sliding-contact surface 38G thatslidably contacts the guide surface 11G formed on the lower surface ofthe top cover 11 is formed on the upper surface in the center, and fourpressure-operated parts 38B are formed so as to protrude downward on theexternal peripheral portion.

A plurality of grooves T is formed on the internal peripheral surface ofthe hole 38A parallel to the axial center Y of the operating rod 20, andthe operating rod 20 is inserted into the hole 38A. Since only theprotruding locations of the internal surface of the hole 38A makecontact with the operating rod 20 in a state in which the intermediatepart 22 of the operating rod 20 is fitted onto the operating rod 20, thecontact surface area with the operating rod 20 can be reduced, and therelative rotation of the rod about the axial center Y and the relativesliding movement of the rod in the direction of the axial center Y canbe facilitated. The sliding-contact surface 38G is formed on a portionof the smooth spherical surface at an equidistant point from the tiltcenter P of the operating rod 20 to provide a smooth stable tilt.

Four concavities 38S are formed in the vicinity of the externalperiphery of the upper surface of the acting body 38, and the relativepositional relationship between the pressure-operated parts 38B of theacting body 38 and the detection positions are properly maintained byfitting the concavities 38S onto the positioning pieces (not shown)protrudingly formed on the lower surface of the top cover 11.

(Pressure Detector)

The pressure detector B has a center electrode 41 formed in the bottomwall part 13B of the lower casing 13, a ring electrode 42, a dome-shapedspring plate member 45 arranged in a position covering the electrodes, afirst contact member 46 arranged on the upper part of the spring platemember 45, and a second contact member 47 fitted and connected to thefirst contact member.

The spring plate member 45 is a discoid material made of a copper alloy,an iron alloy, or another conductor, and has a center part that isformed in the shape of an upwardly bulging dome in the same manner asthe tilt detector. The periphery of the spring plate member 45 is incontact with the ring electrode 42 when a pressing force is not applied,and the center part is set at a distance from the center electrode 41.

The center part of the spring plate member 45 makes contact with thecenter electrode 41 by elastic deformation when a pressing force acts onthe spring plate member 45 from above, whereby the center electrode 41and the ring electrode 42 are placed in a conductive state. A structureis shown in the diagram in which a single spring plate member 45 isarranged, but a plurality of spring plate members 45 may also be used.

The first contact member 46 on the lower side is formed from siliconerubber or another relatively soft insulating resin material, the secondcontact member 47 on the upper side is formed from a relatively hardinsulating resin material, and the first contact member 46 and thesecond contact member 47 are fitted and connected together. The firstcontact member 46 on the lower side is freely operable in the verticaldirection while guided along the internal surface of the restrictionpart 13C, and a concave surface is formed on the upper surface of thesecond contact member 47 on the upper side so as to follow the shape ofthe contact part 25 of the lower end of the operating rod 20, therebyproviding a function in which pressure from the contact part 25 istransferred to the spring plate member 45 via the first contact member46, even when the operating rod 20 is slightly tilted.

The rib-shaped restriction part 13C is set so as to protrude from thebottom wall part 13B of the lower casing 13 so that contact is made withthe pressure-receiving member 26 after the pressure detector B hasreached a detection state due to the pressing force from the operatingrod 20 when the operating rod 20 has been operated by pressure.

(Rotation Detector)

The rotation detector C has a rotor 56 to which rotational force istransmitted from a plurality of gear-shaped engaging pieces 24A of theengaging body 24 formed in an inside end position of the operating rod20, a contact 57 formed on the lower surface of the rotor 56, as shownin FIGS. 8 and 9, and a click spring 58 formed on the lower surface ofthe rotor 56.

The rotor 56 is molded using an insulating resin material, whereby acylindrical part 56A is formed in the center part, and a flange-shapedpart 56B is integrally formed at the lower end of the cylindrical part56A. Groove-shaped engaging parts 56C fitted with the engaging pieces24A are formed on the upper end of the cylindrical part 56A. Theengaging parts 56C are configured so as to allow the gear-shapedengaging body 24 to tilt in accompaniment with the tilting of theoperating rod 20.

Four engaging parts 56C are formed in the circumferential direction onthe upper part of the cylindrical part 56A, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 andFIGS. 8 to 10. Protruding pieces 60 are formed so as to protrude intothe cylindrical part 56A in an intermediate position in thecircumferential direction of each of the engaging parts 56C.

The outside diameter of the cylindrical part 56A of the rotor 56 is setto a value that allows the part to be inserted into the hole 12H formedin the upper casing 12, and the inside diameter of the lower end part ofthe cylindrical part 56A is set to a value that is slightly greater thanthe outside diameter of the spring seat part 13D of the lower casing 13.The external surface of the cylindrical part 56A of the rotor 56 isthereby caused to make light contact with the internal surface of thehole 12H formed in the upper casing 12 in the assembled state of themultidirectional switch. At the same time, the internal surface of thelower end part of the cylindrical part 56A makes light contact with thespring seat part 13D of the lower casing 13 to provide stable rotationin a configuration in which the internal surface of the hole 12H and theexternal surface of the spring seat part 13D serve as guides duringrotation of the rotor 56.

The downward protruding rib is formed on the lower surface of theflange-shaped part 56B of the rotor 56, and the distance between thelower end of the rib and the upper surface of the flange-shaped part 56Bis set to a value that is slightly less that the dimension in thevertical direction of the space formed by the lower casing 13. The uppersurface of the flange-shaped part 56B of the rotor 56 is thereby causedto make light contact with the lower surface of the intermediate wallpart 12B of the upper casing 12 with the multidirectional switch beingassembled to allow the rotor 56 to rotate with greater stability.

The contact 57 is a copper alloy or another conductor molded in a ringshape, and has a structure in which a primary sliding-contact part 57Ain constant contact with the common electrode 51 is formed on theinternal periphery of the contact, and a secondary sliding-contact part57B capable of sliding on the count electrodes 52 is formed in aspecific position in the circumferential direction on the externalperiphery. In such a structure, the count electrodes 52 and the commonelectrode 51 reach a conductive state when the secondary sliding-contactpart 57B on the external periphery of the contact 57 makes contact withthe count electrodes 52 during rotation of the rotor 56, and the countelectrodes 52 and the common electrode 51 are brought to an insulatingstate when the secondary sliding-contact part 57B is separated from thecount electrodes 52.

The click spring 58 is shaped as a ring from a soft elasticallydeformable metal material, and the spring has a structure in which adownwardly protruding part 58A is provided in two locations in thecircumferential direction. During rotation of the rotor 56, theprotruding part 58A engages and disengages from the clicking-inducingconvexities and concavities 53 in the bottom wall part 13B of the lowercasing 13, producing a clicking sensation.

(Detection Configuration)

When the operating rod 20 has been tiltably operated in any directionabout the neutral orientation N in a state in which voltage is appliedto any one of the four tilt detector leads 33 and the single common lead34, the acting body 38 tilts in accompaniment with the tilting of theoperating rod in the manner shown in FIG. 5, and a pressing force actsfrom the pressure-operated parts 38B of the acting body 38 via thecushioning body 36A onto the spring plate member 35 positioned in thecorresponding direction, whereby the spring plate member 35 can beelastically deformed, the center electrode 31 and the ring electrode 32can be rendered conductive, and the tilting operation can be brought outas a change in the voltage signal of the corresponding tilt detectorlead 33.

In a case in which the operating rod 20 has been tiltably operated inthis manner, the sliding-contact surface 38G of the acting body 38supported by the operating rod 20 moves along the guide surface 11Gformed on the lower surface of the top cover 11, whereby the operatingrod 20 is made to tilt about the tilt center P. A clicking sensation isproduced when the corresponding spring plate member 35 undergoes elasticdeformation in the tilting direction in accompaniment with the tiltingoperation, and the operator can perceive that the tilting operation hasbeen detected. Since the pressing force from the pressure-operated parts38B of the acting body 38 operates via the cushioning body 36A duringthe tilting operation, the cushioning body 36A undergoes compressiondeformation under a strong pressing force, whereby unwanted damage fromthe strong force acting on the spring plate member 35 can be avoided.The operating rod 20 is restored to a neutral orientation N by theurging force from the spring ring 37 and the compression coil spring 48when the tilting operation has ended and the tilting operation ofoperating rod 20 is released.

In particular, a portion of the external periphery of the bottom surfaceof the engaging body 24 makes contact with external periphery of thepressure-receiving member 26, and a force that causes thepressure-receiving member 26 to tilt is applied, in a case in which theoperating rod 20 has been tiltably operated. However, tilting and upwardmovement of the pressure-receiving member 26 are restricted by theprotruding pieces 60. Therefore, the protruding pieces 60 prevent asituation in which the location on the opposite side from the locationin contact with the engaging body 24 is lifted up, and thepressure-receiving member 26 maintains a substantially horizontalorientation without considerable tilting, as shown in FIG. 5. Asituation can thereby be avoided in which an urging force acts from thecompression coil spring 48 in a direction offset from the operating rod20. Furthermore, when the operating rod 20 is tiltably operated, thepressure-receiving member 26 and the bottom surface of the engaging body24 of the lower end of the operating rod 20 make contact on the pressingside, but the other bottom surface of the engaging body 24 move away.Therefore, only the urging force from the compression coil spring 48acts from the contact location in the direction that restores theoperating rod 20, and restorative force is increased.

As shown in FIG. 6, the operating rod 20 moves along the axial center Yof the rod when the operating rod 20 is operated by pressure in a statein which voltage is applied to the pressure detection lead 43 or to thering lead 44. Pressure from the operating rod 20 acts on the springplate member 45 via the first contact member 46 and the second contactmember 47 in accompaniment with the movement, the spring plate member 45undergoes elastic deformation, the center electrode 41 and the ringelectrode 42 are placed in a conductive state, and the pressingoperation is brought out as a voltage signal of the pressure detectionlead 43.

When the operating rod 20 has been operated by pressure in this manner,a clicking sensation is produced when the spring plate member 45undergoes elastic deformation, and the operator can been made toperceive that the pressing operation has been detected. When theoperating rod 20 has been operated by pressure, the spring plate member45 undergoes elastic deformation, the center electrode 41 and the ringelectrode 42 are placed in a conductive state, and thepressure-receiving member 26 of the operating rod 20 makes contact withthe rib-shaped restriction part 13C immediately thereafter. Since thefirst contact member 46 is soft and is elastically deformed, unwanteddamage in which excessive force acts on the center electrode 41, thering electrode 42, or the spring plate member 45 can be avoided evenwhen strong pressure has been applied to the operating rod 20.

The operating rod 20 is ideally in the neutral orientation N when theoperating rod 20 is operated by pressure, but the operating rod 20 canalso be operated by pressure in a slightly tilted state. In particular,when the operating rod 20 is significantly tilted, the location of thepressure-receiving member 26 of the lower end of the operating rod 20,which protrudes downward the most because of the tilting, makes contactwith the restriction part 13C state in which the operating rod 20 isconsiderably tilted, whereby a force is applied so as to urge theoperating rod 20 toward the neutral orientation N, and a pressingoperation is performed in which the operating rod 20 in made to approachthe neutral orientation N.

Furthermore, in a state in which voltage is applied to the commonelectrode 51 or the count electrodes 52, the count electrodes 52 and thecommon electrode 51 are placed in a conductive state when the secondarysliding-contact part 57B of the external periphery of the contact 57makes contact with the count electrodes 52 in accompaniment with therotation of the rotor 56 in a case in which the operating rod 20 hasbeen rotatably operated, and the count electrodes 52 and the commonelectrode 51 are brought to an insulating state when the secondarysliding-contact part 57B is separated from the count electrodes 52. As aresult, the voltage of the count lead 55 is reversed. The change in thevoltage signal is counted (numbered) on a board or the like external tothe multidirectional switch each time the voltage changes in thismanner. The rotational distance of the operating rod 20 relative to theinitial rotation orientation can thereby be ascertained (the device canfunction as an incremental rotary encoder).

The protruding part 58A of the click spring 58 engages and disengagesfrom the convexities and concavities 53 when the operating rod 20 isrotatably operated, and rotation can be ascertained by a clickingsensation from the operating rod 20.

Effect of the Embodiment

In accordance with this invention, a tilting operation of an operatingrod 20 is electrically detected by a tilt detector A, a pressingoperation of the operating rod 20 in the direction along the axialcenter Y is electrically detected by a pressure detector B, and arotational operation about the axial center Y of the operating rod 20 iselectrically detected by a rotation detector C.

In a case in which the operating rod 20 is not operating, the operatingrod 20 can be kept in a neutral orientation N by the urging forceexerted by the spring plate member 35 and rubber ring 36, whichconstitute the tilt detector A, in the direction of the neutralorientation N, and by the urging force from the compression coil spring48. In a case in which the operating rod 20 is tiltably operated fromthe neutral orientation N, pressure acts on the external periphery ofthe compression coil spring 48 (external periphery of the coil) from theexternal peripheral part of the engaging body 24 of the inside end ofthe operating rod 20 via the pressure-receiving member 26.

In a situation in which a biased force acts on the compression coilspring 48 in this manner, stretching deformation is induced in theexternal periphery (external periphery of the coil) on the other sidefrom the pressure-acting position across the urging axial center Q.However, the protruding pieces 60 restrict the lifting of thepressure-receiving member 26 in a location that extends in this manner,whereby the pressure-receiving member 26 is caused to maintain asubstantially horizontal orientation (an orientation orthogonal to theurging axial center Q). Therefore, it is possible to avoid anundesirable situation in which the restorative force of the operatingrod 20 is reduced and in which the switch is less convenient to operateby the operating rod 20 during the operation.

Other Embodiments

In addition to the embodiment described above, the present invention mayhave a configuration in which, e.g., restricting pieces that protrudeoutward are formed in a plurality of locations of the external peripheryof the pressure-receiving member 26, a plurality of slits or grooves isformed in the cylindrical part of the rotor 56 along the perpendiculardirection so as to allow entry of the restricting pieces, and therestricting pieces make contact with an upper end position of the slitsor grooves to make it possible to set the tilt limit of the urging forceexerted by the urging member (compression coil spring 48).

In such a configuration, the restricting pieces make contact with theupper end of the slits or grooves to prevent a situation in which thelocation on the side opposite from the location in contact with theengaging body 24 is lifted up, even in a situation in which a portion ofthe external peripheral part of the bottom surface of the engaging body24 makes contact with the external peripheral part of thepressure-receiving member 26 and a force is applied to tilt thepressure-receiving member 26, as in a case in which the operating rod 20is tiltably operated. This is a result of the pressure-receiving member26 being restricted from moving upward by the contact of the restrictingpieces with the upper end of the slits or grooves. As a result, thepressure-receiving member 26 substantially maintains a horizontalorientation without greatly tilting, and a situation can be avoided inwhich the urging force operates on the operating rod 20 in a biaseddirection from the compression coil spring 48.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can be used as a multidirectional switch having atilt detector for electrically detecting a tilting operation of anoperating rod supported in a casing, a pressure detector forelectrically detecting a pressing operation of the operating rod in adirection along an axial center, and a rotation detector forelectrically detecting a rotational operation of the operating rod.

1. A multidirectional switch provided with a tilt detector forelectrically detecting a tilting operation of an operating rod supportedin a casing, a pressure detector for electrically detecting a pressingoperation of the operating rod in a direction along an axial center, anda rotation detector for electrically detecting a rotational operation ofthe operating rod, the multidirectional switch comprising: an urgingmember for applying an urging force to the operating rod along an urgingaxial center that is coaxial with the axial center of the operating rodin a neutral orientation in the direction of the tilting operation; anda pressure-receiving member caused to make contact with an inside endpart of the operating rod inside the casing by the urging force from theurging member, wherein: the pressure-receiving member has a tilt limitduring the tilting operation of the operating rod.
 2. Themultidirectional switch of claim 1, wherein protruding pieces areprovided for setting the tilt limit by making contact with thepressure-receiving member.
 3. The multidirectional switch of claim 2,wherein: the rotation detector has a rotor for rotating in accompanimentwith the operating rod, and a plurality of electrodes for detecting therotational position of the rotor; the rotor has a cylindrical partcapable of engaging and integrally rotating with the external peripheryof an inside end part of the operating rod; the urging member and thepressure-receiving member are arranged inside the cylindrical part; andthe protruding pieces are formed on the internal surface of thecylindrical part.
 4. The multidirectional switch of claim 1, wherein:the pressure detector has a spring plate member made of a conductorelastically deformed by the effect of a pressing force produced by theoperation of the operating rod in an inward pressing direction, and alsohas a pair of electrodes energized by contact with the spring platemember when the spring plate member undergoes elastic deformation; theurging member is made of a compression coil spring; and the compressioncoil spring is arranged in a position that encompasses the spring platemember.
 5. The multidirectional switch of claim 1, wherein the tiltdetector has elements arranged in positions encompassing the operatingrod, the elements comprising: an acting body for integrally tilting withthe operating rod; a spring plate member made of a conductor elasticallydeformed by the effect of a pressing force produced by the acting body;and a pair of electrodes energized by contact with the spring platemember when the spring plate member undergoes elastic deformation. 6.The multidirectional switch of claim 2, wherein: the pressure detectorhas a spring plate member made of a conductor elastically deformed bythe effect of a pressing force produced by the operation of theoperating rod in an inward pressing direction, and also has a pair ofelectrodes energized by contact with the spring plate member when thespring plate member undergoes elastic deformation; the urging member ismade of a compression coil spring; and the compression coil spring isarranged in a position that encompasses the spring plate member.
 7. Themultidirectional switch of claim 3, wherein: the pressure detector has aspring plate member made of a conductor elastically deformed by theeffect of a pressing force produced by the operation of the operatingrod in an inward pressing direction, and also has a pair of electrodesenergized by contact with the spring plate member when the spring platemember undergoes elastic deformation; the urging member is made of acompression coil spring; and the compression coil spring is arranged ina position that encompasses the spring plate member.
 8. Themultidirectional switch of claim 2, wherein the tilt detector haselements arranged in positions encompassing the operating rod, theelements comprising: an acting body for integrally tilting with theoperating rod; a spring plate member made of a conductor elasticallydeformed by the effect of a pressing force produced by the acting body;and a pair of electrodes energized by contact with the spring platemember when the spring plate member undergoes elastic deformation. 9.The multidirectional switch of claim 3, wherein the tilt detector haselements arranged in positions encompassing the operating rod, theelements comprising: an acting body for integrally tilting with theoperating rod; a spring plate member made of a conductor elasticallydeformed by the effect of a pressing force produced by the acting body;and a pair of electrodes energized by contact with the spring platemember when the spring plate member undergoes elastic deformation.